Right there with you, sage. Long history of chippy, dirty play in both sports.
FB: Duke 31, Va Tech 28
- Thread starter budwom
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TheDevilMadeMeDoIt
Member
Haven’t been impressed with Tech’s coach. His first two seasons were mediocre. This season for a third year with portal transfers is only okay. In Manny we trust.
Huge VPI fan at work and he's going with big group to watch the easy win. He's probably right since we've never upset the Hokies have we.
Mike Petrik
Member
Yes, I do think we have a coaching advantage.
CameronBornAndBred
Well-known member
Close loss at Clemson = beaten by 10 points. It was only 10 and not 17 because the Hokies scored their only offensive TD of the day with less than 2 minutes to play.
They did truly almost beat Miami, and would have had it not been for a hail mary TD wiped off the board. I think most impressive is that they stomped Georgia Tech, 21-6. I'd be more worried had they not turned right around and choked against Syracuse.
Duke is already the underdog, despite having the better record. Don't know what the early line is, but in ESPN's "matchup predictor", Duke has only a 42.3% chance of winning.
Whatever.
Virginia Tech vs. Duke (Nov 23, 2024) Live Score - ESPN
Live coverage of the Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils NCAAF game on ESPN, including live score, highlights and updated stats.www.espn.com
We're pretty evenly matched teams from a statistical standpoint. Neither offense will blow the doors off the other team, and both teams play solid defense. VaTech is more balanced offensively and run the ball better than we do, while we present a more potent passing attack. Our scoring on offense and points allowed by defense are pretty similar. Both defenses are also predicated on creating havoc—VaTech is very good at it, but we are elite at it (we're #2 in TFLs and takeaways per game and #3 in turnover margin).
We've played somewhat comparable schedules, though they had better early OOC games against an impressive Vandy squad in Nashville and pretty solid Rutgers and Marshall in Blacksburg. Of course, they went 1-2 in those games, beating Marshall.
The line is likely predicated more on common opponents GaTech and Miami. We fell to both on the road (24-14 at Tech, 53-31 in Miami) while the Hokies recently beat the Jackets in Blacksburg 21-6 and we all know what happened in their game at Miami where they were arguably robbed of a last second victory but fell 38-34 after one of those infamous ACC video reviews.
Of course, the law of transitivity doesn't apply to results against common opponents, and at the end of the day while we're both 3-3 in conference, Duke is 7-3 overall while VaTech is 5-5. Intangibles... Perhaps the Hokies will have some extra motivation trying to achieve that 6th win for bowl eligibility? At the same time, this will be senior day for Duke, the last home game of the season.
In a game that looks pretty even on paper, I'd put my money behind our elite D. I also agree with others who have pointed out that Brent Pry just hasn't really impressed in his three seasons in Blacksburg while Manny has put up a pretty impressive inaugural campaign thus far in Durham, doing a good job of making in-game adjustments, managing game and clock situations, etc. I predict we win a tight, hard fought game, something like 27-23.
CameronBornAndBred
Well-known member
One thing I know, Wallace Wade is going to be PACKED. The Hokies travel really well, and our own fans have done a solid job of coming out this year. With a primetime game and a full day for tailgating, this will be another sellout.
Stray Gator
Moderator
I hope you're right about this being a sellout, but I think an 8pm kickoff makes the game too late for many who'd like to bring kids and for fans who need to drive in from out of town but don't want to deal with an overnight stay in a hotel.
Ehhh the "close loss" to Clemson wasn't really as close as the score indicates. I believe VT got a turnover that they returned for a TD, can't remember if it was an INT by Klubnick or a blocked FG. They took a 7-0 that didn't last very long and Clemson scored 24 unanswered. VT got a score in the 4th to make it appear closer but Clemson had full control of the game after the initial turnover.
VT has a good defense, a hit or miss offense, and honestly they're about the same tier as Duke is. You could argue VT's best win is the 4 pt loss to Miami like Duke's best win is the 1 pt loss to SMU. To me this is a coin flip matchup
Mike Petrik
Member
Agree on Clemson, but the rest just confirms what I'm saying. Closely examined, our records are not that different. They have an edge in talent and experience, but we have the better coach. Should be a good game and glad it's at home. Lane is a great place to play, if you're VT.
I don't know. Duke has won 3/5 up there. The script for these two teams are VT starts fast and Duke comes from behind in the second half to win by less than 7. (Pry is 1-10+ in close games.)
Duke opens as a 2.5 points underdog.
Virginia Tech averages 29 points per game so I believe Duke needs to hold them to four or five points below their season average to win. My expectation is a close game decided in the 4th quarter.
Duke 27, Virginia Tech 24 is my prediction.
Virginia Tech averages 29 points per game so I believe Duke needs to hold them to four or five points below their season average to win. My expectation is a close game decided in the 4th quarter.
Duke 27, Virginia Tech 24 is my prediction.
Wait a minute... Did you just Price Is Right me? Or is this just one of those 'great minds' instances?
Brent Pry came over to VaTech from the D-coordinator job at Penn State. He had decent results but Nittany Lions fans were not upset to see him leave. His successor who did a great job at Penn State? Manny Diaz.
Dr. Maturin
Member
VT has been a tough team to rate. A lot of people were high on them in the preseason. Then they lost to Vandy and Rutgers. Next came a really nice 4 game stretch where they nearly beat Miami, crushed Stanford and BC, and beat GT by two scores (as noted above, Haynes King was out that game). They played a decent Syracuse team on the road without starting QB Kyron Drones, and lost 38-31. Then they lost to Clemson.
I'm not sure what Drones' status is, as he played against Clemson but their backup played in that game as well. Also, their star RB Bhayshul Tuten had just 4 carries for 0 yards. Not sure if there is any injury there or something else.
Tuten is certainly the danger man. Of our opponents so far, their offense reminds me most of UNC. Tuten is not as good as Hampton, but on track for his second 1,000 yard season. VT is 4th in the ACC in rushing offense - interestingly we've played the top 3, and all 3 gave us some issues (UNC, SMU, GT). In the passing game VT is not nearly as dynamic, averaging just 185 ypg. I expect them to run the ball early and often.
The key matchup may be on the other side of the ball. We've talked a lot about Duke's struggles running the ball. VT is second to last in the ACC in rushing defense, giving up 159 ypg. However, on a yards per carry basis, they are more middle of the road at 4.0 ypc allowed. Hopefully we can establish a foothold in the running game. VT's pass defense is solid, giving up 206 ypg and a league leading 54.7% completion percentage against. It may be a situation where the short stuff isn't there, but the downfield plays may be.
I expect another grind it out affair. I doubt we'll score a ton, but if we can limit Tuten our defense may keep us in the game. Seems like a game that could come down to turnovers and special teams.
I'm not sure what Drones' status is, as he played against Clemson but their backup played in that game as well. Also, their star RB Bhayshul Tuten had just 4 carries for 0 yards. Not sure if there is any injury there or something else.
Tuten is certainly the danger man. Of our opponents so far, their offense reminds me most of UNC. Tuten is not as good as Hampton, but on track for his second 1,000 yard season. VT is 4th in the ACC in rushing offense - interestingly we've played the top 3, and all 3 gave us some issues (UNC, SMU, GT). In the passing game VT is not nearly as dynamic, averaging just 185 ypg. I expect them to run the ball early and often.
The key matchup may be on the other side of the ball. We've talked a lot about Duke's struggles running the ball. VT is second to last in the ACC in rushing defense, giving up 159 ypg. However, on a yards per carry basis, they are more middle of the road at 4.0 ypc allowed. Hopefully we can establish a foothold in the running game. VT's pass defense is solid, giving up 206 ypg and a league leading 54.7% completion percentage against. It may be a situation where the short stuff isn't there, but the downfield plays may be.
I expect another grind it out affair. I doubt we'll score a ton, but if we can limit Tuten our defense may keep us in the game. Seems like a game that could come down to turnovers and special teams.
Atldukie79
Member
During my time in DUMB, I may or may not have witnessed the transportation of libations in the prodigious Tuba bell. It does provide a rather muted Om-Pa sound when a spontaneous call for the fight song surprises the Tuba player...On one of State's kickoffs that went over the endzone, I noticed a Wuffie cheerleader catch the ball in his bullhorn. I wondered how long it took him to get it back out.
NYBri
Member
So, did you know Jim Henry?